Second Date

Second Date

I didn't know how to stop
                    or even if I knew how
if I'd want to.
                    We walked back
          from the coffee shop and all I wanted was
to hold your hand but I didn't
                    know how or if I did, how to stop
so I didn't.
             With the station two blocks
    away, you pinch then unpinch your fingers
in the air, saying Sometimes all life
          needs is a little salt.          I didn't stop you,
                    but if you knew how to continue, you didn't.

I showed my teeth, my shyness,
          said we should try that new Thai restaurant's
coconut soup sometime soon—
                    the air something I could almost
hold in my hands.           You said
          Yes, we should, and I didn't
                    stop you but you didn't continue.